Page 28 of Hungry Like a Wolf (Vikings Rock #3)

“ Ja , beautiful Anna. She is my wife.” Orm pressed his hands over his heart. “She took me as her husband when I thought no one ever would. I am… How would you say…” He spun his finger by his temple. “An acquired taste.”

He certainly was that.

“Congratulations,” Carmel said. “I am pleased for you both.” She remembered the way Anna had looked at Orm, sought him out, found things to talk to him about. She wasn’t that surprised about the news. Anna had clearly liked Orm…a lot.

“I am glad you have found the happiness I have,” Ravn said. “And what is the news of King Haakon and our sister, Astrid?”

“Ah, there is much to tell.”

“Go on,” Carmel said, settling back and folding her arms. She was keen for news.

“Haakon is to be a father,” Orm said, his eyes sparkling, “and judging by the size of Kenna’s belly, I would wager it’s twin boys.”

“Really?” Ravn strode to the pit house. “We should celebrate,” he called. “I will get the mead.”

“Wait, brother.” Orm held up his hand. “My wife wishes to get to Drangar after a long journey and I do not wish for her to swim to shore.” He gestured at the longboat bobbing on the water. “We will celebrate in Drangar, together, when you return from this…this sea air vacation.”

Ravn paused and nodded. “Very well. But before you go, tell me, how is Astrid?”

“Ah, Astrid.” Orm rubbed his hands together. “She is as wild as ever and her man does nothing to tame her. Not one thing to rein her in, fasten her down, or hog-tie her.”

“Her man. You mean Hamish?” Ravn asked.

“ Ja , he’s her man. He’ll only ever be her man, for she refuses to marry him.”

“Has he asked?” Ravn shrugged.

Orm laughed. “He knows her well enough to know that would get him no pussy for a week at least.”

Carmel thought back to how Astrid had intimidated her. She had a fiery flash in her eyes that matched her hair and seemed beyond confident in her abilities, beliefs, and decisions.

“I miss her,” Ravn said suddenly.

“You do?” Carmel asked.

“Really?” Orm raised his eyebrows.

“ Ja , when you were sick, Carmel, I wished she were with me.” Ravn stroked his hand over Carmel’s hair. “I wished for her calmness and wisdom.”

“You were sick?” Orm asked.

“My throat burned and the sweats took over my body.”

Orm peered at her. “You are white, like the first snow.”

“Which is why she must rest here.” Ravn moved to Orm and in a sudden flurry, embraced him. “I’m glad that you are returned to your homeland. Father would have been too—”

“Huh, I’m not so sure about that.”

“He would be glad to see you happy and married. Now go and I will look forward to our time together in Drangar. But until then, go to our people and let them be joyous about your marriage. They will be curious about Anna, as they were about Carmel.”

“Aye, tell her not to be afraid, they are friendly,” Carmel said. “Welcoming.”

“I thank you, Your Grace, and I will pass that on. She has been troubled with not fitting in.” He bowed low to her, almost mockingly.

“She has lots to learn,” Carmel said calmly. “And I will be glad of her friendship when I return home.”

“You have learned a lot. You speak our tongue now.” Orm nodded approvingly. “It is a good sign that you will rule well.”

Before Carmel could answer, he jumped into the air, clapped, then landed, puffing up dirt and sand with his boots. “I must love you and leave you, King and Queen. Until we meet again, be well and safe and fuck gloriously.”

“But why did you come back?” Ravn called to his back. “Will you stay?”

Orm was running down the beach. “Over mead. I will tell you all over a horn or ten of mead.” Orm held his hand in the air and ran into the waves. Within seconds, he’d disappeared under the water and then was striking out toward the longboat.

“That was unexpected.” Ravn removed his weapons and then placed his hands on his hips.

“Very.” Carmel stood and went to him.

“Why do you think he made the journey?” He took her into his arms.

“You all have the sea in your veins. Your blood is laced with saltwater. ’Haps the ocean called to him. ’Haps his home called to him. Maybe he wanted to show the world his pretty bride.” She paused. “It could be he wanted to see you.”

“He’s never liked me.” Ravn tutted. “Why would he want to see me?”

“That wasn’t what I just witnessed.” She stroked his hair, tucking it behind his ears. “He just jumped off a boat to swim and see you. That isn’t something you do for someone you don’t like.”

Ravn appeared thoughtful. “You’re very wise, you know that?”

“And you are caring and bossy, clever, and yet sometimes slow. And also, you are a fine warrior and seafarer and…”

“Keep going.” He grinned. “This is fun.”

“And glorious at fucking.”

His eyes widened a moment, then he laughed. “You repeat my brother’s crude words. That is not like you.”

“Are you complaining?”

“No.” He sat on the chair and smiled up at her. “I think I like it.”

“Then you will like this.” She straddled him and reached for his belt buckle. Within a few seconds, it was undone and hanging aside.

“Carmel,” he said as he watched her undo the tie on his pants. “You are still…”

“I am not sick. I am almost well, and I think you are the last dose of medicine I need.”

“Then I am at your service.” He ran his wide palms up her thighs, gathering her tunic and exposing her bare pussy. He swallowed and licked his lips as he looked at her patch of hair.

“Is the longboat gone?” she asked, slipping her hand into his pants and gripping his cock.

He grunted as she wrapped her hand around his growing hardness. “It is…” He looked over her shoulder. “Going out of view very soon, around the headland.”

“That is good, because I’m going to sit on your cock.”

He laughed, a shocked huff of sound. “Your illness has left you with a wicked mouth.”

She smiled and freed his cock entirely. “It’s liberating.”

“It’s the way Vikings speak.”

“Which you wanted from me.”

“ Ja .” He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. “Fuck, it feels good when you touch me like that.”

She worked his length in several steady, firm strokes. It rose to full hardness and as always, it amazed her how quickly her husband could go from flaccid to steeliness in seconds. His cock was always ready for fucking, always willing to spill seed into her.

“The longboat has gone,” he said, opening his eyes. “We are alone.”

“Good.” She lifted up and placed one hand on his shoulder for balance. “You should see if I am wet for you.”

His eyes sparkled. “I should?”

“Aye, finger me.” Carmel knew she’d just learned something else about her husband. He liked whispered dirty words. She’d remember that for the future.

He slipped his touch to her pussy, which was hovering over his cock. With his eye contact steady, he fingered through her folds, just brushing her nub.

She caught her breath, her breasts hitching.

“ Ja ,” he murmured. “You are wet like a dewy morn.” He explored further, to her entrance, and pushed in.

She groaned, loving his invasion. It was a prelude to more. Much more.

“Always wet and willing,” he murmured, pushing in deeper. “My beautiful wife.”

“Oh, aye, I am and…oh…Ravn.”

She rocked her hips and the heel of his hand caught on her nub. Her fingers tightened on his shoulder and she closed her eyes. The first spark was already there and she stoked it by rolling her hips, a small dance that felt oh-so-good, especially when he added another finger.

“My love,” he murmured. “I am yours.”

“As I am yours.”

She opened her eyes and looked at his rapt expression. “I want your cock.”

“My cock wants you.” He withdrew and circled her waist, keeping her tunic bunched up in his hands.

She looked down at his thick, needy cock and positioned herself over it, her pussy kissing the tip.

“Sit,” he said, his voice tight. “Sit on me.”

Carmel didn’t need asking twice and she lowered onto him, taking his cockhead into her body and then pausing to adjust to the delicious stretch of his width.

“Mmm,” he moaned, not thrusting upward, but letting her have control. “Keep going.”

“Tell me how much you need it.”

“More than the moon needs the stars, more than a sail need wind… Oh, fuck, Carmel, I need you.” His grip on her waist increased and he pulled her down onto his cock.

She forced her tight muscles to relax and took his length. The sensation was so dense and thick and filled her so absolutely. Her ass landed on his thighs and she curled her fingers into his flesh. “Oh…that is so…”

“In the name of the gods, I’m so deep inside you,” he said, a rise of color growing on his cheeks. “This feels amazing.”

“You glad…you made…this chair?”

“Hell yeah.”

She let her head fall back and tipped her face to the sky. He caught her crown in his palm and leaned forward to lick her throat.

She moaned and moved her hips forward and backward. The grinding motion caught her nub and she trembled with the need for more.

Ravn obviously enjoyed it too because he encouraged her, with his hands on her waist, to keep up the rocking motion.

She worked herself on him, grinding and crushing as she gasped and shook. Her toes pointed and her nipples ached. The pressure in her pussy was growing, becoming a boiling cauldron of need that would overspill.

“Don’t…stop,” he said, cupping her right breast. “Carmel.”

“Oh… Oh… I’m going to…” The sensation was so sweet, her body well and truly alive again. “It’s here…Ravn.”

She opened her eyes and stared into his face as the moment of ecstasy reached a crescendo and then released. It was wild and feral. It was intense and breath-stealing.

“Ah, fuck!” he cried as he blasted into her, his body as hard as the rocks around them and his cock throbbing inside her. “Fuck ja …”

She clasped his face and kept staring into his eyes.

Her pussy pulsed with pleasure as white-hot bliss raced around her body.

Never had she felt so connected with another person.

She could see into his soul. The goodness of him was there.

He was the most amazing man she could have ever wish to meet.

“I love you so very much,” she gasped. “I always will.”

“As I love you.” He was breathing fast, his nostrils flared, and a few dots of sweat sat on his brow.

“Nothing will ever part us.”

“Nothing. I swear on Thor’s hammer, nothing will part us.” He kissed her, holding her close with his arms wound around her body. The breeze lifted her hair and a gull called overhead.

Carmel had lost her father, been taken prisoner, traveled to another land, and survived the throat sweats, and thank goodness all that had happened, because it meant God had placed her right where she belonged.

Here. With her Viking husband. King and Queen.

And happier than she’d ever imagined possible.